NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 27 Kenyans have been arrested in a continent-wide crackdown on online fraud that led to 651 arrests and the recovery of more than $4.3 million (about KSh555 million), authorities said.
The operation, dubbed Operation Red Card 2.0, ran between December 2025 and January 2026 and targeted high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud and fake loan applications operating across digital platforms.
The initiative was coordinated by INTERPOL under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime framework, bringing together law enforcement agencies from more than a dozen African countries.
Investigators said suspects in Kenya used messaging apps, social media advertising and fabricated testimonials to convince victims to invest in schemes falsely associated with reputable global companies.
Victims were often asked to deposit small initial amounts — sometimes as little as $50 — with promises of significant returns. Authorities say victims were shown fake dashboards and account statements, while attempts to withdraw funds were blocked.
Speaking on the operation’s outcome, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, Neal Jetton, said:
“These organised cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses and entire communities with their false promises. Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combating transnational cybercrime.”
“I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help,” he added.
Across Africa, investigators linked scams to losses exceeding $45 million and identified at least 1,247 victims, most of them within the continent.
Authorities seized more than 2,300 digital devices and dismantled over 1,400 malicious IP addresses, domains and servers.
In Nigeria, police dismantled an investment fraud network using phishing tactics and fake digital asset platforms. Authorities also uncovered a residential property used as an operational hub for cybercriminal activity and disrupted schemes siphoning airtime and data from telecommunications providers.
Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, law enforcement arrested 58 suspects in connection with mobile loan scams targeting vulnerable users. Officers seized hundreds of SIM cards, mobile phones and laptops.
INTERPOL said many of the fraudulent loan schemes attracted victims with promises of quick, unsecured credit, only to impose hidden fees, abusive debt-collection tactics and harvest sensitive personal data.
Operation Red Card 2.0 was supported by the Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced, a programme backed by the European Union and the Council of Europe, alongside funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
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Participating countries included Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe among others.
Technology partners such as Cybercrime Atlas, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, TRM Labs and Uppsala Security contributed intelligence analysis, digital forensic tools and training to strengthen investigative capacity.
Authorities say the scale of the operation reflects the growing sophistication of cybercrime networks in Africa, where increased smartphone use, mobile money adoption and social media penetration have created new opportunities for fraud.
Law enforcement agencies warn that scams are becoming more professionalised, often operating across borders and using coordinated infrastructure to evade detection, underscoring the need for sustained international cooperation.
